Projo Politics Blog

Elayne Burke is best known in East Bay as the proprieter of Chatelaine, the upscale women's clothing boutique on Bristol's waterfront.

But this week in Denver, Burke, a Roger Williams Law School graduate and veteran of the Bill Clinton White House, has what she calls a "thrilling'' assignment -- helping to get Invesco Field ready for Thursday's acceptance speech by Sen. Barack Obama.

Burke is in Denver as a volunteer for the Democratic National Committee. She is part of a team of Democratic political veterans from around the country who are charged with moving the convention on Wednesday night from the Pepsi Center to Invesco Field, home of the National Football League Denver Broncos.

"We'll be starting at 9:15 Wednesday night, as soon as the gavel goes down at the Pepsi Center, moving the staff and equipment over to Invesco,'' said Burke. "Then Senator Obama is supposed to come by for a walk-through at around 9:30 in preparation for his speech Thursday.''

"I'm really thrilled about Thursday night,'' said Burke. ``It is really going to be historic.''

No presidential candidate has given his acceptance speech in an outdoor sports stadium since 1960, when John F. Kennedy accepted his nomination in an address at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. Kennedy was the last sitting senator to win the presidency.

Burke doesn't know yet whether she will be tapped to help escort Obama to the podium on the big night. But if so, she will be ready. At the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, Burke was part of the advance team that escorted Obama to the stage at the Fleet Center when the Illinoisian gave his celebrated keynote speech.

"I'd love to be picked to take him up to the stage at Invesco,'' said Burke in a telephone interview today.

 Tags  acceptance speech Democratic Convention Elayne Burke Invesco Field Obama

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